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Winners

In this month's Around the Kitchen Table, Marci Konecny won a copy of Too Hot to Handle, a Fiona Silk Mystery by Mary Jane Maffini

Deb Forbes is the winner of the Mystery Lovers Kitchen tote bag from this month's Around the Kitchen Table

Congratulations to Autumn Trapani who won a copy of Mary Jane Maffini's TOO HOT TO HANDLE, a Fiona Silk Mystery.

Congratulations to Sharon F, who won a copy of For Cheddar or Worse, A Cheese Shop Mystery.

Congratulations to Marilyn, who has won a copy of Rhys Bowen's ON HER MAJESTY'S FRIGHTFULLY SECRET SERVICE!

Congratulations to MamaHen who won a choice of book from Daryl Wood Gerber aka Avery Aames.

Congratulations to our 7th Anniversary Photo Contest Winners: Jennifer M, Jana B, Erika L, Nancy S, and Lorraine A! Thanks to ALL for participating. What a blast!!! Here's to lots more years for the MLK gang.

Congratulations to Margo B.and Becky (at) Becky's Place who won gift cards for commenting on blogger Cozy Up with Kathy (Kaminski's) guest post.

Congratulations to 33Wynter who has won a copy of SOWED TO DEATH by Peg Cochran.Congratulations to Diane H. (profhollister at gmail dot com) who has won a copy of SOWED TO DEATH by Peg Cochran.Congratulations to Kelly Braun (Gaelicark at yahoo dot com) who has won a copy of No Farm, No Foul by Peg Cochran!Congratulations to Pat D.patdupuy(at)yahoo who has won a copy of SOWED TO DEATH by Peg Cochran

Congratulations to Judy Weaver, who's won a copy of KALE TO THE QUEEN by Nell Hampton (who is also Nancy Parra)!

Saturday, August 27, 2011

It's that time of year again ... sleepy little Denton, Texas, hums with crowds of new students, parking becomes a nightmare once again, and every trip across the street involves a silent pact with the traffic gods (lest you be run over by some 18-year-old trying to drink a mocha with one hand while texting with the other, having no clue that she's going the wrong way down a one-way street).

Yep, school has started. So my week has been filled with graduate student orientation, new student convocation, an open house for my new academic building, last-minute revisions to syllabi, meeting with teaching assistants, attending workshops on using classroom tech ... you get the idea.

The result is that Mr. Wendy and I are eating the quickest meals we possibly can. But I cannot stand just ordering in every night or--gasp--eating straight convenience foods (don't get me wrong: I have a long menage a trois with cheese puffs and Little Debbie cakes, but they don't cut it for dinner).

Thursday night, faced with the prospect of heading back into the wilds of crazy, new-student traffic jams or making do with what was in our pantry, we opted for the latter. And the Tostadas con Papas were born ... I have to say, for something impromptu, they turned out pretty dang good.

And, for the record, we repeated the meal on Friday night, subbing Misa Ramirez's Spanish rice for the potatoes. Equally delish.

What's your go-to, don't-have-time-to-shop meal? Until the kids stop coming to classes (about week four), we'll have many of these nights of scrounging ...

Scrub the potatoes and put them in a lidded casserole. Poke holes in the potatoes with a fork. Add about an inch of water to the casserole, cover, and microwave on high 12-15 minutes (until potatoes are fork tender). Drain the potatoes and cut into a 1/2 inch dice.

Heat the oil on medium high in a large skillet. Add the potatoes and sprinkle with seasoning. Cook, turning occasionally, until brown (about 10 minutes).

Preheat oven to 350. Smear the tostada shells with refried beans and heat (on a cookie sheet) for about 3-5 minutes.

Top the tostada shells with potatoes, tomatoes, cheese, and lettuce. Add a little sour cream and/or taco sauce if you're so inclined.

Yum!

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Wendy is the author of the Mysteries a la Mode. Visit her on the web or on Facebook.